Saunderson’s Sheugh and the border problem

Saunderson’s Sheugh, the latest manifestation of the proposed reconstruction of the Ulster Canal, would run along a border for much of its length. That’s the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, but there is one important border it does not seem to cross [as far as I can see]: that between counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Has Cavan stolen the sheugh from its northern neighbour? I’m sure that folk in the Monaghan part of the Dáil constituency of Cavan-Monaghan won’t mind, but I wonder whether the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, who is a TD from the Monaghan end and is in charge of Sheughery, is concerned that her Monaghan colleague Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin [Sinn Féin] might turn the situation to his party’s advantage. On the other hand, from Sinn Féin’s viewpoint, the question might be whether any sheugh is better than none.

Of course, as soon as a coalition of Sinn Féin and the Éamon Ó Cuív wing of Fianna Fáil takes power, we’ll have the entire Ulster Canal built immediately. And there will be grants for growing flax, carrying corn to Dublin and draining the Shannon [which might mean that there are no southern boats to visit the Ulster Canal].

I should say, though, that Davy, in two reports out today, is not very worried about what Sinn Féin might do: Finfacts story here; Davy here; the two reports here and here [each of which should open as a PDF; if that doesn’t work, use the links on the Davy or the Finfacts page].

3 responses to “Saunderson’s Sheugh and the border problem”

Doesn’t this mean that if UKIP win the next general election in the UK and leave the EU, that the Ulster Canal will need to have multiple passport controls along it? Still, think of all the extra jobs for HM Customs and Excise officers! It’s win win! :-D

The Erne end of the Shannon–Erne Waterway runs along the border: if you’re driving down the middle, each side of the boat is in a different jurisdiction. But you will, I am sure, wish to consider the implications of the UK and Irish positions on the Schengen Agreement, Area, Information System and visa policy, as well as the Common Travel Area and the opt-outs under the Amsterdam Treaty. bjg